Ben Macpherson
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“It would be helpful to understand from the member’s supplementary question what he means by degrees that “offer limited value”, so that we can understand the point that he is trying to make. Thomas Kerr: I will get a list over to the minister. I am always happy to educate the education front bench about pointless degrees.”
“I am sure that, collectively, we all want to congratulate the 2024-25 school leavers, 93.5 per cent of whom were in a positive destination nine months after leaving school. We will also, I am sure, want to recognise together the dedication of the practitioners who supported them to achieve that.”
“Can he guarantee that every pound that has been allocated to apprenticeships is being spent on apprenticeship training, rather than elsewhere in the education budget?”
“This year, building on previous work and initiatives, the Scottish Government has introduced a new Government-led skills planning model—which has been developed in close partnership with stakeholders, including those in industry—to ensure that our post-school education and skills system becomes even more responsive to Scotland’s strategic…”
“We want to support all our young people to choose a pathway that suits their strengths and enables them to fulfil their potential to the greatest extent, developing their skills and critical thinking. Our all-age careers support, delivered by Skills Development Scotland and other partners, promotes every pathway to our young people.”
“Ben Macpherson: Daniel Johnson knows that I like to be constructive in my dialogue in the chamber, but I must gently point out that one of the key problems that those in industry have emphasised to me is the impact of the national insurance increase, as well as other pressures and costs that have affected the number of apprenticeship star…”
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Every one of 643 lines we hold for Ben Macpherson, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 11 of 13.
“Of course, those solutions will not happen without people, which is why I have been working with key farming organisations on a proposal that the Government fund the creation of a food production skills pipeline. If we are to shift from a system that prioritises extraction at the expense of everything else to one that requires our producers to look after everything—from soil health and biodiversity to the need to feed people—we will need to upskill all existing food and drink workers and create a pathway that encourages young people to consider a career in the food sector. I apologise, Deputy Presiding Officer, but the clock does not seem to be working. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Indeed. I apologise for that, but I noted when you started speaking. Adding six minutes to that point takes you to 16:34 and 16 seconds.”
“That makes it incredibly difficult for our Government to do its job properly, which, in turn, impacts our food and drink producers, who cannot plan with any certainty or confidently transition to regenerative and sustainable farming practices that will safeguard their future against the climate and nature crises. Multiyear funding and the allocation of an adequate proportion of that money to the food and drink budget would let Scotland achieve those farming goals and allow us to deliver the aims of the expected good food nation plan: creating a healthy and resilient Scotland, protecting our unique cultural identity, opening up high-quality local food for everyone and doing all of that in a just way.”
“I also share the concerns raised by several of my colleagues that fisheries are being excluded from the national marine plan. I urge the Government to rethink that so that we can designate parts of the sea to be fished and other parts to be left to nature. Richard Leonard made some valuable points about seasonal migrant workers. We need to ensure that they are not exploited, that they are properly housed and that they have a voice. In my opening speech, I spoke about the threats that Scotland’s food and drink sector faces. However, there are solutions, which I will now set out. I highlighted the need for multiyear funding for food and drink production. Although the UK Government’s decision to remove the ring fencing around Scotland’s farming budget was welcome, we still have no idea what the funding will look like from next year.”
“Nor is it right that children in the country’s most deprived areas are struggling with food insecurity and malnutrition, as was highlighted in Food Standards Scotland’s recent “Dietary Intake in Scotland’s Children” report. Let us export but also ensure that we are making food and drink accessible to all. Reflecting on today’s debate, I agree with Christine Grahame and Clare Haughey that Brexit is one of the biggest threats to the Scottish food and drink sector. It has been an economic disaster for farmers and supply chains. If Scotland had had its wish and had remained in the EU, we would not be talking about how the UK Government is not respecting the provenance of Scotch whisky, which is an issue that Scottish Labour appears to be unclear on.”
“Collaborative solutions can be found. It has not been mentioned yet, but one of the important underlying factors in why our food and drinks industry is so successful—those who create and produce them are most important—is that Scottish water is a mutual product. Water is cheaper here and of such high quality, which we should not underestimate. 16:28 Ariane Burgess: During the debate, we have heard a lot about exports. Although they have an important role to play, we must not lose sight of the fact that we need to produce food and drink for the people of Scotland in a generative and sustainable way. It is simply not good enough that communities in my region do not have guaranteed access to good nutrition, as the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s report “Economic, social & cultural rights in the Highlands & Islands” told us.”
“On such scenarios I say, “You couldn’t make it up.” On devolved issues, the cabinet secretary should be aware that I have written to finance ministers with concerns about the effect of land and buildings transaction tax on pubs in my constituency, which is worth looking at. Other members have talked about the challenge of reducing problematic alcohol consumption in our country by supporting our food and drinks industry. It is a sensitive issue. I encourage everyone, when alcohol advertising is considered again, to take a collaborative approach, because the producers in my constituency, along with others, want to be positive contributors to our society and economy. It is also important that smaller businesses can break into markets so that people discover their products. A lot of that is about advertising in the shop and in other ways.”
“The reason why I list them is that, whether they are in Leith in my constituency or elsewhere in the country, such businesses have been affected through the turbulent times of Covid and as a result of the war in Ukraine, the current Trump Administration’s actions, the folly of Brexit and the current national insurance increases, of which we are about to see the worrying effects. That increase will be one of the biggest mistakes that the Labour Government makes— and it has made several already. I remember Labour members of Parliament talking very passionately before the election last July about how they supported Scotch whisky. One of the first things that the Government did in its first budget was increase the duty on the whisky industry.”
“Members know—including the member who spoke previously in the debate—that there are also many famous shortbread brands in the area, including Shortbread House of Edinburgh, which has grown in recent years and whose products are enjoyed here, across the world and on airlines. PekoeTea Edinburgh, in my constituency, is a growing exporter of a variety of teas that are made in Leith. Leith also has many bakeries, including the famous institution that is Storries Bakery, on Leith Walk; the emerging Babyfaced Baker; Mimi’s Bakehouse, which has expanded to elsewhere in the city; Mario Patisserie; the Sicilian Pastry Shop; Hobbs House Bakery on Leith Walk; and Krema Bakehouse. All of them are good for celebrating special occasions.”
“Historically, it was where Rose’s lime cordial was invented, which is one of the most significant and well-known soft drinks and a product that is used in baking and, of course, in bartending. As a former bartender, I know that well. Crabbie’s whisky was made in Leith in years past and continues to be made in Bonnington. Today, we also have the award-winning Woven whisky and the new Port of Leith distillery, which has iconic status as part of the skyline on the Forth and is the world’s first and highest vertical distillery. As well as being home to whisky distilleries, my constituency has five breweries—Cold Town Beer, Pilot Beer, Newbarns Brewery, Campervan Brewery and the Moonwake Beer Co.”
“The Leith Walk ward is the most densely populated part of our country. The wider area of Leith has been, and continues to be, important in the story of Scotland’s food and drink success. As a major port in centuries past and in current times, Leith has been a place where manufacturers have made and exported their products. It is also a place where people have come to visit, live and enjoy some of the best of what Scotland has to offer, as they continue to do today. For example, there are three Michelin-starred restaurants, many cafes and other restaurants as well as many—too many to list—pubs and bars. As colleagues and visitors know, and as the people of Scotland know, Leith is a great destination.”
“I, too, pay tribute to my colleague Mairi Gougeon. I am sorry to hear that she will not be seeking to come back to Parliament. Since she became a minister in 2018, the only time when she has not worked in her current portfolio was when I substituted for her for six months as Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, working with Fergus Ewing and Roseanna Cunningham. Mairi Gougeon is a superb example of someone who works diligently and effectively, and who gets things done during turbulent times. When I filled the role of Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment for six months, I was reminded, as the MSP who represents the most densely urban part of Scotland, of how important the natural environment and rural affairs are to all of us, including those of us who live in cities.”
“The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Meeting closed at 17:06. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit. Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The final question is, that motion S6M-16777, in the name of Neil Gray, on adoption of innovation in health and social care, as amended, be agreed to. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament believes that there are significant health and economic benefits in supporting and adopting innovation in the health and social care service; recognises the urgent and critical need for health and social care recovery and renewal to meet the changing demands on the NHS whilst protecting its founding principles of remaining in the hands of the public and free at the point of need; agrees that reform can and must be accelerated by scientific and technological innovation and that rapid national adoption of research-proven innovations are essential to drive further improvements for patients; welcomes partnership working between Scotland's world class academic institutions, life sciences and technology businesses, the public sector and the NHS to improve health outcomes and support a thriving economy; acknowledges that much of the NHS’s existing IT infrastructure is outdated and suffers from interoperability issues, which harm productivity and create an additional burden on NHS staff; further acknowledges that a lack of modern, effective IT infrastructure has created challenges for GP practices and patients, including difficulties in easily booking appointments or ordering repeat prescriptions; believes that the introduction of an NHS Scotland app, a universal software architecture platform and a single shared digital patient records system to enable seamless transfer of medical information within and between NHS boards, local authorities and other care providers, would be transformational for all aspects of health and social care; understands the vast potential of artificial intelligence within health and social care to accelerate diagnosis, increase productivity and improve patient outcomes; recognises the significantly greater progress made in other parts of the UK and in European nations in developing and implementing these technologies, and considers it vital to the future of Scotland's health and social care provision that adoption and innovation of new technologies within the sector is accelerated.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to vote through the application. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Macpherson. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-16777.2, in the name of Paul Sweeney, is: For 47, Against 63, Abstentions 0.”
“The process involving the infrastructure board and NHS Scotland assure improves that position. We are obviously interacting with boards, including NHS Lothian, to make sure that the recommendations are understood and the lessons about communications and process are learned so that the issues that Ben Macpherson has raised in relation to infrastructure and the impact on his constituents can be properly addressed, and so that we have a better process in future for the people whom he represents. Health and Social Care Innovation”
“The cabinet secretary talked about the significant remedial works that were required and the fact that the inquiry’s remit required it to make recommendations to ensure that any past mistakes are not repeated in future NHS infrastructure projects. The cabinet secretary has spoken about this at some length in response to other members. Is there anything more that he would like to say about how the Scottish Government plans to ensure that lessons are learned, particularly with regard to NHS Lothian and my constituents, and about how it will keep Parliament informed about the inquiry and the implementation of its recommendations? Neil Gray: I think that I have set out where the process can be improved to avoid such issues arising in the first place.”
“Work does not pay enough; it is not linked well enough to economic growth. When we had economic growth, we did not have fair distribution, and we did not have high enough wages during the 1990s and 2000s. I do not buy the idea that disability benefits are fair game. Disabled people need our help, and if we want to make savings, we need to look elsewhere. We need to raise money from the very few rich people in our unfortunately poor country, the UK. 16:19”
“The disability benefits that the Scottish Government provides are intended to give people support for their conditions; they are not linked to work. There is another debate to be had about universal credit, which is failing. On Friday, I had a constituent at my surgery who had worked all his life and had paid into the system—I hear that from people again and again. He worked in manual labour and had hurt his hand, so he went to claim universal credit for support to pay his rent. Do you know what they said to him? They said, “You have another hand that works, so you can’t get universal credit.” If we want to fix welfare, let us fix universal credit, and let us support those with disabilities and create a system in which people get the support that they require when they need it. Only then can we make the case that work always pays.”
“The Scottish Government is often left to pick up the pieces, for example, in social security. We have talked a lot about social security as it relates to income support. The Scottish child payment, and other benefits that have been mentioned, have made a massive impact. However, a real problem is that public discourse has led us to a place in which disability benefits are considered an area that savings need to be made in. A lot of people are on disability benefits, but, because of the pressure that has been applied to them through austerity, demand is growing, not through the fault of those people but because of the conditions that have been manifested by political decisions—mostly taken at Westminster—over the past decade, as well as a result of international factors.”
“Given that situation, how do we use devolved power—because that is all that we have—and push for more power to alleviate costs and support people? There have been bold and collective initiatives— Paul O’Kane: Ben Macpherson is making a characteristically interesting and thoughtful speech. He said that devolved power is all that we have, but does he see the power of partnership between the UK Government and the Scottish Government on many of the issues that I raised in my speech, not least through some of the innovations to bring down bills and through GB Energy? Ben Macpherson: I see the power of partnership, but I am continually disappointed that UK Governments, particularly given the UK Treasury’s extraordinary power, do not take bold action to address the inequalities in the housing and energy markets.”
“Ben Macpherson: Inflation and its causes are, absolutely, now part of a picture in which some people can access credit and amass assets, and others do not stand a hope, even in their mid-life, of getting into a position of being able to own an asset. That presents us with the challenge of rents, which we are wrestling with as a Parliament. How do we continue to build houses but also address the fact that rents are continually, year on year, taking up a higher percentage of people’s incomes? It is not just a matter of supply and demand. As a culture we have reached a position in which house prices and costs are expected to rise, and we need to get to a position of stabilisation, which is a difficult place to land.”
“If people knuckled down and saved for a few years, they could buy a house in their late 20s—simple. In the space of a decade, that ratio doubled. The previous time the ratio was this high, cars had not been invented, Queen Victoria was on the throne and home ownership was the preserve of a wealthy minority. We are heading to that position again. Patrick Harvie: Before the member moves on from housing, does he agree that one of the things that has turbocharged the change towards ever more unaffordable housing is that a great deal of housing has been transferred into the private rented sector and is simply seen as a cash cow by those who own excess property? They own more property than they need, which has massively increased the unaffordability of housing for the rest.”
“The Scottish Government— whether the SNP or the SNP and the Greens— has used its powers to best effect, but, on reflection, would we have tried to do some things in a slightly different way? Yes, we would. The reason why I apportion blame collectively is that this is our collective scenario, and it is our collective responsibility to serve and improve. As the Financial Times noted not so long ago, Britain has become a poor country with some very rich people. How have we ended up there? We have ended up there by allowing the rewards of work to deplete and the cost of living to rise, principally, in two areas: housing and energy. For 80 years between the 1910s and the 1990s, average house prices in the UK were roughly four times the average earnings. That was a fixed characteristic of British society.”
“This debate is about the issues that affect our constituents the most, not just at this time but over many decades. The scenarios that those we serve face right now are not only the consequence of recent months and years or of one party’s time in government; they have built up over decades. I have seen the root causes take shape during my lifetime. Over the past 40 years, the Conservative Party has been in power at Westminster more than any other party, so, when Conservative colleagues apportion blame elsewhere, they are not taking responsibility. The Labour Party has missed opportunities—it has done some things well, but, in my view, it could have done some things better. The Liberal Democrats were in a coalition Government at the turn of the crash.”
“Paul O’Kane: I will finish, if the cabinet secretary will allow me to do so. I think that I am rapidly running out of time.”
“Indeed, for the first time last week at committee, the cabinet secretary acknowledged the challenge in that, and it is a stark situation. We have to look at how Social Security Scotland is working and how its systems can work more efficiently. Multiple interventions have been made since the UK Government came into office, but there are challenges here, as well. The Scottish Government wants to ignore the fact that it has a responsibility to ensure that we have the energy mix that I mentioned, which can provide more sustainability and self-sufficiency and bring down bills. The Scottish Government has a long- standing aversion and opposition to nuclear power, as I have already referenced today. We know that planning approval for Berwick Bank is waiting on desks. Gillian Martin: Will the member take an intervention?”
“What Mr Macpherson’s question was alluding to is whether Mr O’Kane would like to put on the record now, before he knows the final details of what is in that green paper, what he thinks the UK Government should do? Would he back the calls to ensure that we protect disabled people, particularly those who are on child or adult disability payment, from cuts by the UK Labour Government? Paul O’Kane: The cabinet secretary perhaps did not hear me say that I believe that we have to invest in supporting people who want to work to get into work. We need to reform the system. On ADP, the cabinet secretary and I have had this debate, so we know that already in the system is a £1 billion overspend in block grant adjustments, which we had to have a debate about.”
“[Laughter.] I do not know the detail of the green paper—perhaps members opposite know—but I do know, because we debated it last week, that there is a very important discussion to be had— Shirley-Anne Somerville: Will the member take an intervention? Paul O’Kane: I will just finish this point, if the cabinet secretary will allow me to do so. There is a very important discussion to be had about the fact that the social security system is not working and is broken. We have to invest in supporting people who want to work but who face too many barriers to getting into work, because that is an important part of ensuring that people can receive an adequate income. Shirley-Anne Somerville: I agree that we should support people into work.”
“Will the member take an intervention? Paul O’Kane: I am conscious that time is available, so I will give way. Ben Macpherson: In previous debates and exchanges, Paul O’Kane has spoken with passion about the need to support disabled people through the social security system. Paul O’Kane mentioned Barnett consequentials. What is the Scottish Labour Party’s view of the UK Government’s proposed potential cuts to disability benefits, which would have a consequential effect on the Scottish Government’s available resources? Paul O’Kane: Mr Macpherson used two very telling words: “proposed” and “potential”.”
“That the Parliament agrees that the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Ukraine”
“Motions agreed to, That the Parliament agrees that the Regulated Roles with Children and Adults (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved. That the Parliament agrees that the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (List A and B Offences) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved. That the Parliament agrees that the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (Incidental, Supplementary and Consequential Provision) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved. That the Parliament agrees that the Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 [draft] be approved. That the Parliament agrees that the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2025 [draft] be approved.”
“Motion agreed to, That the Parliament recognises that Scotland’s many high-growth sectors, which are driven by world class innovation, deserve greater recognition from, and promotion by, the UK Government, which must not unfairly focus investment in the south-east of England, or the so- called golden triangle of Oxford, Cambridge and London, or treat Scotland as an afterthought, especially when announcing or developing policy. The Presiding Officer: If no member objects, I propose to ask a single question on six Parliamentary Bureau motions. As no member has objected, the final question is, that motions S6M-16687 to S6M-16691, on approval of SSIs, and motion S6M-16692, on designation of a lead committee, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Abstentions Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S6M-16667, in the name of Kate Forbes, on achieving a fair balance in the UK’s economy, is: For 59, Against 47, Abstentions 7.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S6M-16667, in the name of Kate Forbes, on achieving a fair balance in the UK’s economy, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-16667.1, in the name of Daniel Johnson, is: For 20, Against 94, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S6M-16667.1, in the name of Daniel Johnson, which seeks to amend motion S6M-16667, in the name of Kate Forbes, on achieving a fair balance in the UK’s economy, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My apologies—I lost connection. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Macpherson. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-16667.3, in the name of Murdo Fraser, is: For 27, Against 87, Abstentions 0.”
“Ben Macpherson: As the MSP for the area where the Leonardo facility is located, I will continue to engage with the company to make sure that, in future, it has no direct engagement with the IDF, which is engaging in abhorrent acts to our fellow human beings elsewhere in the world. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to closing speeches. 15:38”
“I also pay tribute to all those in my party and the Scottish Government, and across the political spectrum, who have been calling for a ceasefire since the period of conflict began and who have condemned the disproportionate actions and the immorality of Hamas and the IDF. It has been clarified that the funding that is provided by Scottish Enterprise does not go towards the manufacture of munitions, but I understand why there is a focus on making sure that Scottish Enterprise stringently abides by that position. Lorna Slater: Will the member take an intervention? The Deputy Presiding Officer: The member is about to conclude.”
“International law—along with humanity, negotiation and mediation—is the only mechanism through which a resolution can be achieved to the most challenging issue not only of the 20th and 21st centuries, but of times past. The ceasefire is welcome in providing a breathing space, but President Trump’s proposals are—it is hard to put this into words— unconscionable. In the 21st century, we have a President of the United States who is proposing ethnic cleansing. How can we even contemplate that? It creates such a sense of hopelessness. However, we have seen on the streets of Scotland the solidarity that there is with those who are suffering. I pay tribute to all my constituents who have shown solidarity with those who have been affected.”
“Mention has been made of the fact that the numbers involved are hard to relate to. We are talking about the equivalent of half the people in one of our constituencies, and tens of thousands more have been injured. All those events are subject to legal consideration. I pay tribute to the Scottish head of legal for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, who has been documenting the situation throughout the current period. As was articulated by my colleague Humza Yousaf, who is sitting in front of me and who has shown tremendous leadership on the issue not just domestically but internationally, we must hope that we see a time when international law is upheld.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate, although it is a shame that we do not have more time this afternoon to spend on this important topic, which is arguably the most important topic of our time. As other members have done, I condemn the Israeli Government’s actions and military operations since 7 October 2023, and indeed a lot of what it did in the region before then. The attacks on 7 October 2023 were, of course, brutal and horrific, but the devastating, horrifically immoral and unethical, and totally disproportionate military response by the Israeli Government and the IDF will scar this time in history for many decades to come. That response has had a devastating impact on the people of Palestine. According to the UN, 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in that time. That is the equivalent of half my constituents.”
“The most recent studies have shown the industry to be worth about £635 million in gross value added a year, and it has the potential to become a billion-pound industry by 2030. I would encourage advertisers, those who commission TV programmes and those who want to film for the big screen to do so in Scotland as much as possible.”
“A related area where Scotland has strength is the production of advertising. A number of agencies, including in my constituency, have reported to me that there are concerns about both Scottish Government advertising and private advertising being procured out of Scotland. I would be grateful if the cabinet secretary could engage on that issue. He will know that I have written to him on it in recent times. Angus Robertson: I acknowledge that Edinburgh Northern and Leith is a centre for the creative industries and that some very prominent and successful advertising agencies are based there. I am entirely focused on making sure that, right across the screen sector—whether it is advertising, television or film—we get maximum value in relation to the industry heading in the right direction.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Katy Clark will close on behalf of Scottish Labour. 16:14”
“I ask the cabinet secretary to say a bit more about how third sector partners will be included and engaged in the review, because they do so much of the heavy lifting. For those reasons, we are not able to support Pauline McNeill’s amendment, although we agree with many of the points that she makes in it, particularly those about women in prison and the importance of throughcare services. The independent review must be robust and speedy both in its reporting and, as appropriate, in its implementation, but it must not be used as an excuse not to do the rest of the work that is needed. That includes the work that we already know about, which can, with courage, will and resources, save lives, break the cycle of trauma and help individuals, families and communities to live safer, healthier and fairer lives.”
“Positive Steps, which is also based in Dundee, helps people who are leaving incarceration to access housing and services, and it recognises how vital the right support is, especially in those crucial first days and weeks post-release. Of course, much of the work that is carried out by third sector organisations and by statutory agencies is about mitigating what other parts of the system are getting wrong. It addresses the damage that is caused by incarceration and the failure to act on the evidence of what works, including alternatives to custody and earlier prevention and diversion, which we have just heard about from Ben Macpherson. We welcome the independent review, which I hope will address the serious knowledge gaps in the area, including why non-custodial sentences are not being used more.”
“The slow violence of prison is the worst soil in which those seeds can grow. I am encouraged by the work that is being done in the north-east, especially by third sector organisations that are using their expertise to provide care and invaluable help to those who are already involved in the criminal justice system and those who are at risk of involvement. Those organisations include the Tayside Council On Alcohol, which is working in Dundee and Angus on initiatives including its holistic beyond mentoring service for women in Dundee, which bridges the gap between statutory support services and what happens when they move on.”
“Keir Starmer may have thrown out his human rights commitments with his pre-Downing Street spectacles, but we, in the Scottish Greens, are holding on to ours. A central and foundational part of enabling a better society is the creation of a better justice system that does not scapegoat the powerless while enabling the crimes of the powerful—of corporations, elites and law-breaking states—and that gives survivors real agency and genuine security and requires those who cause harm to take responsibility for their actions, seek and find the help that they need and use their experiences to help others to change. Instead of the vicious circle of offence and reoffence, and of intergenerational and community damage, we could have virtuous circles of infectious rehabilitation.”
“Indeed, despite the differences between the motion and the amendments, there is quite a lot of agreement in the chamber, including a recognition of the need for urgent action to tackle our too-high prison population. As Liam McArthur pointed out, our justice system is too reliant on prison, and we know that, too often, women are most affected by that. Yes, there is a new Washington consensus of cruelty towards migrants and refugees, transgender and non-binary people, the people of Palestine— whose genocide is now part of a grotesque real estate proposition—and the present and future victims of climate injustice, but Westminster does not have to follow every step quite so assiduously. In Holyrood, we certainly do not need to.”